Overview

• Agg-CLNP combines biodegradable polymer nanoparticles coated with aggrecan peptides and loaded with calcitriol to target dendritic cells in joint-proximal lymph nodes.
• Agg-CLNP enhanced abatacept’s efficacy in mice, yielding fewer activated T cells and reduced joint inflammation compared with abatacept alone.
• In a post-dexamethasone flare model, Agg-CLNP sustained immune-calming signals and significantly lowered arthritis flare severity.
• Local injections confined the nanoparticles to joint-draining lymph nodes without altering systemic vitamin D levels or causing broad immunosuppression.
• Next steps include optimizing the nanoparticle formulation, conducting comprehensive toxicity assessments and designing phase I clinical trials.